# Amazon Funds New Nuclear Power Plant in Indiana for Data Centers Amazon partners with X-energy and AEP to deploy advanced modular reactors in Indiana. - **Source:** [The Verge](https://www.theverge.com) - **Published:** 2026-10-19 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/a0cbcf8d-3b11-4e7c-ba73-3cac3dd5bb83 ## Strategic Nuclear Energy Investment Amazon has officially signed an agreement with X-energy and American Electric Power to fund a new nuclear facility in Fairbanks, Indiana. This project aims to replace the defunct Breed Generating Station. The initiative is designed to provide 960 megawatts of carbon-free energy to both the regional power grid and Amazon’s data centers. ## Advanced Reactor Technology Deployment The facility plans to utilize 12 Xe-100 Small Modular Reactors, which are currently undergoing development and licensing. These advanced reactors offer flexible cooling solutions, including air, water, or hybrid methods. This versatility allows Amazon to deploy the infrastructure in water-constrained regions without placing additional demand on local community water resources. ## Economic and Employment Impact While no specific construction or operational timeline has been announced, Amazon estimates the project could generate 1,000 construction jobs. Additionally, the facility is expected to create 100 permanent roles once fully operational. These figures represent the projected economic contribution to Sullivan County as the company transitions away from traditional coal-fueled energy sources. ## Historical Context in Indiana The project site is located in a state with a complex history regarding nuclear power. Indiana previously hosted the Marble Hill Nuclear Power Plant, which was abandoned in 1983 after a $2.5 billion investment. Demolition of that site has been ongoing since 2008, highlighting the significant risks associated with large-scale nuclear energy infrastructure. ## Broader Collaborative Energy Goals This Indiana project marks the second collaboration between Amazon and X-energy. The companies share a collective goal to work with regional utilities to deploy over 5 gigawatts of new nuclear capacity in the United States by 2039. This follows their previous announcement regarding the Cascade Advanced Energy Facility located in Washington state. ## Tech Sector Nuclear Trend Amazon is not alone in its pursuit of nuclear energy to support massive AI computing demands. Meta, Microsoft, and Google are also actively exploring nuclear projects to power their expanding data center footprints. This trend reflects a broader industry shift toward securing reliable, carbon-free energy to sustain the high power requirements of AI. ## Addressing Data Center Criticism Amazon recently outlined its commitment to investing in energy grid infrastructure within a public blog post. This strategy aims to mitigate growing public and regulatory negativity surrounding the environmental impact of data center projects. However, the company acknowledges that it will take many years before these new facilities provide tangible energy benefits. ## Long-term Infrastructure Outlook The reliance on unproven Xe-100 reactor technology underscores the experimental nature of this energy strategy. As tech giants compete for power, the success of these modular reactors will be critical. Stakeholders should monitor licensing progress and construction timelines, as these factors will determine if the project meets its ambitious long-term capacity goals. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.theverge.com/tech/1013735/amazon-x-energy-aep-nuclear-indiana — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._